bouton



Nov. 7, 1933. E. M. BOUTON Re. 18,987

ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aw mm- 22 Q5 er A INVENTOR ATTORNEY NOV. 7, 1933. M, BQUTQN ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm a: mm

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ko uawtw INVEINTOR Edge/ /7 Bouiorz ATTORNEY mM m Reis sued' Nov. 7, 1933 i j 1 Re UNITED i s'rArs-s PATENT-OFFICE,

Edgar M. Bouton, Park Ridge, 111., assign'or to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Commany, a corporation of Pennsylvania r Original No. 1,72i),538,-dated Ju1y9, 1929, No. 247,156, January 16, 1928. Application for reissue April 11, 1931. SerialNo. 529,535

momma (01. 187-429) My invention relates to control systems and.v distance,.preyents the first car travelling in that it has particular relation to systemsof control direction from .stopping in-response to the panfor road vehicles, elevators, hoists and similar Sanger-operated pushbuttons. apparatus. My invention will be described with reference An object of my invention is to provide acontrol to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 60 system for elevators wherein the elevator may be Figure 1 is adiagrammatic View of my control started by an attendanton thecar and stoppe system' as applied to two elevators operating in.

by the persons desiring to use the car. adjacent hatchways; and 1 Another object of my invention is to provide. Fig. 2'.is a diagrammatic view 0! my blocking I 10 a control system'for elevators wherein the car is or zoning system as applied to two adjacent ele- 65 started by an attendant on the car and stopped vators operating between ten floors. by the operation of push-buttons, either at the I Figure 1 illustrates a control system for two landings at which persons desire to board. the elevators, A and B, the driving systems for which car, or by push-buttons within the car correare identical and the control for only one of-which sponding to the floors at which passengers wish will, therefore, be specifically described, the letter 70 to leave the car. V Apreceding the reference characters for the parts Another object of my invention is to provide described. 1 Y a control system for a plurality of elevators in a The control system for elevator car A. combank, wherein each of the cars is started by an prises a control system'of thevariable voltage attendant on the car and wherein passengeror Ward-Leonard type and includes a driving 75,

operated means at the several landings traversed. motor AM of the shunt-wound type having a by the elevators will cause the first car to apshunt-field winding AMF'v and an armature AM, preach the corresponding floor to stop for such Directly coupled to the armature AM of the passenger or passengers. drivingmotor AM is an armature AG, of a gener-=' Another object of my invention is to provide a ator AG. The generator AG is preferably 0! the 39 control system, as described in the preceding parcompound-wound *type' including a series-field. agraph, wherein the car will stop only when winding AGSF,'a shuntefleld winding AG!" and a travelling in-the direction in which the passenger demagnetizing-field winding AGAF. Ihev generwishes to go. 1 ator armature AG is connected in -.loop" circuit 39 Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a with the armature AEM of ahoisting motor 5 control system for a plurality of. elevators in va. AEM. The hoisting motor AEM is provided with. bank, wherein each car may be started bythe a shunt field winding AEMF and has its armature: attendant on the car and stopped in response to AEM. directly coupled to a hoisting drum AD, passenger-operated push-buttons v and wherein overwhich a cable AC, suspending the elevator the first car to approach the floor restores the car-A, passes to a counterweight AW. 99

passenger-operated buttons and prevents cars The hoisting motor-is controlled as to direction. approaching the floor subsequently from stopping and speedthrough the agency of an up-direction. at such floorswitch A1, a down-direction switch A2 anda speed Another object of my invention is to provide a relay A3. These relays are. operated by the control system for a pluralityof elevators operatactuation of a'car switch ACS mounted uptm the ing between a plurality of floors, wherein the elevator car "A., J shaft foreach of the cars is dividedinto a plurality Each of the floors intermediate the terminal. of zones or blocks, each including several adjacent floors traversed by the elevatorcar A, is provided floors and wherein the condition of two cars bewith a pair of call push-buttons, one for up ing simultaneously within a zone or block preand one for down travel. The call buttonszmo vents the car which first entered the zone from for the third floor are designated by the reference receiving signals or being stopped at any floor numerals 3U and 3D, respectively, those for the within that zone in response tocalls from. floors second floor by the reference numerals 211 and.

within that zone. A 2D, respectively. While only four floors are Another object of my invention'is' toprovide a illustrated in the drawing itwill be obvious from 105 control system for elevators. wherein cars are the following description thatthe system may automatically stopped at the several floors in. be applied to any number of floors without modiresponse to passenger-operated push-buttons, fication of the essentials of my invention.

, and wherein the approaching of two cars, travel N0 buttons are shown for the terminal floors ling in-the same direction within a predetermined since, in the usual method of operating elevators,

fscribed. l r I I I 1 A push-button for each otjthe floors is' mounted" 7 each car makes a complete trip from one terminal to'the other whenever the car is started in either direction, and since limit switches are universally provided for automatically stopping the car at the terminalfloors.; Y hwu n l ar w sm ectedtol h respective push-buttons 3U, 3D, etc., and are designated, respectively, by thereferenc'e "numeralstR3U, R3D, R211 and B2B. The coils of these relays are respectively connected in series rela tion with contact members on reset relays+S3U,'

83D, etc. These'relays cor'nprisemeans for regis-' 'tering and cancelling calls ,for service tit-the cor; responding floors, as hereinafter more ful1y,de-

w on the carA, thebutton f'or-thethird floor being 2'5 the carwhen travelling in eitherdirection.

- designated by the reference numeral*'""C3 and that for the second floor by the numeral 02.; These buttons are associated with relays CR3,

' CSRB, etc in a manner "similar I to thatsdescribed for -thf'e buttonsfand relays mounted at the various floors. It will be noted that onlyo'ne button for eachfiooris provided inith'e car for stopping 5 Floor selectors KFS andBFs for the respective cars are "illustrated in the l lowermost portion of Fig. 1. The floor selectors are-duplicatsof each. other and'each com'prisesa series of contact-segments-mouhtedupon a suitable baselnot shown) APSA' (or" BFSA for carBlJ The farm A'FSA'is ingthe control oi signal: systems," thatis; the; armand traversed by a movable floor selector arm xdriven' in correspondence" with themovements'of the elevatorcar A in the manner usuallyfpracticed AE'SA is mounted upon "a-screw A8,. which is connected for rotation with some movable partof the elevator hoistingme'chanism. i As illustrated; the movablea'rin AFSA is'partiallyrotated about they 46 ,.screw-AS-bymeans ofa pair ofmagnetic memi'c switch A2, and conductors 25 and 26 t'oline con-- '5'- members -c of switch A2, conductori28,'the Dori-' V bers ADS-and-AUSso as to engage, respectively,

the right hand or {-do'wn "set of contact segments with the'brrushesfili of the right-hand portionzof the floor selector ann .AFSA,-or to engagethele'ft g; handor upfset :of contact segments and the br'usheson theileft=hand portion 'ofthe selector" *AFSA, depending upon which of the magnetic membersiis energized. r I The'system w'ill be best understoodwhen de- 3 scribed in connectionwith an assumed operation: Assuming that the'elevator car A is'atthe uppermost terminal or fourth 'fioor,;the operator rstarts the car' downwardly by moving thehandle o'fthe car switch JACS to the left, engaging: contactmembers 10.5nd ll'w-ith the? contact "segment AC8: 1 This operation-energizes the down-dire'c tion switch A2 through'a circuit-extending hem line conductor L1 through'condu'ctor 12; the coil oii down-direction switch 1A2, conductor-113, con tact member 11;contact1 segment FACSf ;'-.xcontact member 10, and conductors 14, 15, l6:and: 1'1,-"to1 line 'conductorL-z?" V i Down-"direction switch A2 completes a. circuit. for the generator shunt field winding' 'AGF exg: tending from- 1irie conductonLl ftl'lrough co ductors l2" and l8, 'contact members a of switch A 2, conductors 19 andf20', the generatorshunt' field winding'AGF,"conductor 21; resistor-22,"

, conductors 23 and 24, contact rnem'bers" b ofdu'c'torLZI 1 Direction switch A2 also completes a selt holding circuit extending from line conductor L1, through conductor'm; thecoilof the down-direction switch 'A2, conductor 27, contact adjacent ,fi'oor.

mally closed contact members 29 of the up stopinductor-relay 30, conductor 31, the normally closed contact'members 3-2 of down stopdnductor- ,rclay'33, and conductors 34, 35 and 26 to line The; functions. of j the vindu'c'tor relays 30 and 33 in this system are the same as those disclosed in my'copending application Serial No. 731,921, filed August 14; 1924, and assigned to the West inghouse Electric S zfManufacturing Company. In that application is disclosed an elevator controlsystem; whereinl. the holding circuits-for me, 'digiection and speed; switches are automatically zop'e ned by the" inductor-relays 'as' the car approaches predetermined points in the hatchway,

thus "stopping" the car accurately level with the Referring'again to Fig; 1, a further operation of .the car switch ACS' engages the contactmembers :10 and 36, completing a circuit for the speed relay -A3 extending from 5 line conductor L1,

through conductors "12 and37, the coil of relay A3; conductors" 38 and" '39 contact member 36,

contact segment 'ACS" of car switch ACS, contact member 'lo," andic'onductors 14, 15, 16. and 17"to linecond'uctorLl l Therelay A3 closes its contact members-a; excluding resistor 22 from the circuit for the generator'shunt field-winding AGF'causing the 'elevator motor to increase its'speed and, by operation of its'contact members 1), 'com pletes aself holding circuit extending from line conductorLl} through-conductors 12 m 3'7, the coil ofrelay A3, conductors" 38 and 40, contact members 1) of switch A3,"conductor 41, 'normajlly closed contact members 42 of an'up slow-downinductor-re-lay 43, conductor 44, "the normally closed contact members45 of a down slow-downline conductor L2L i r The inductor relays 30, 33, 43

application of John Ff'Clancy, Serial N01 559,997, filed May 11", 1922, and in 'the' copending applica tionof H. W. Williams', SerialfNd." 190,482, filed May'il, *1927,*and' assigned to the 'We'stinghouse Emmet Manufacturing Company; The operation of these relays is" such that theenergization o f'the coil for the relay does not actuate the associated contact members immediately, but when the relay structurejis 'brought adjacent a mag- 'netizable' inductor plate, the energized. coil will effect an operation o f the contact members.

When the 'carismoving upwardly, the upinand 46 are pref erably 'of the type described in the copen'ding' inductor-relay 46, and eonductors- 35 and '26 to" du'ctor-relays 3dand g3 cooperate with mage neti'zable jfiron inductor plates mounted in" the hatchway, 'one forveach of, the floors, ,the' plate'.

for'theth'i'rd floor being designated byreference natdlbyfreference numeral 2X, The "down 'inductorrelays 33' and 46 cooperate with inductor platesaY and 2 Y, as the can approaches thethird and second floors, respectively; in the down direcnumeral 3X and that for the second being desig- 4 g tion. fl-he relative position-of the inductonplates a Y andinductor-relays with reference tothe floors is suchthat the relays will beactuated-to open their contact memberswhen the 'caris at such distance from the floors as to permit the opening of the speed and direction switches to stop the H cari'accurate 'i level .with the adjacent floor.

'As'soon as the elevator car A starts downwardly,

the attendant on the carwmay return the car switch. AC5 to the ,central'oroflf position,,and the car will continue' to move. downwardly'at high speed; sincethe above-traced self-holding cir cuits-for the direction andspeed switches remain closed independently of the car switch ACS;

,As the car approached the upper terminalon its way up, (prior to thestart of the down trip as described) a cam ULC mounted'on the'car was" brought into engagement with a switch UL, .p-referably of the limit'switch type, and disengaged the contact members of the switch. This operation of the switch UL opened the circuit for the up floor selector magnet AUS, permitting the coil of the down. fioorselector magnet'ADS 'to draw the right-hand portion of the floorselector arm AFSA into engagement with the down sets of contact segments (those 'on the right-hand portion of the floorv selector AFS). The magnets AUSand ADS are of the high-resistance type and are designed to have their circuits .completed at all times during which .the car .is betweenzthe terminals. When: the movable arm ,AFSA has been. rocked to .fdown. contact-engaging positionyby the opening of the circuit for the up. magnet AUS, the subsequent 'reenergization of the magnetAUS will be ineffective to draw the arm' back to its neutral position orv to rock it'in the up direction, until the downmagnet ADS has been deenergized. A suitable switch DLis provided for engagement by a cam DLC when the car approaches its lower limit of travel'for the purpose of deenergizingthe. fdown magnet ADS as .the car arrives at the lower terminal. Thus, as the car starts downwardly, in response to the above-described operation, the floor selec tor arm AFSA will have been rocked to engage the down contact segments,.that is, the right-hand set of segments.

Assume that a passenger at the third floor desires to travel downwardly and operates-the button 3D at the third floor. A circuit is thus completed for the push-button I relay R3D extending from line conductor L1, through conductor 50,. the push-button BDJ'conductOr 51 the coil of relay-R3D,' conductor 52, the normally closed contact members of the relay-53D, and conductors 53 and 54to line conductor L2. The, energization of relay RBD completes a self-hold ing circuit extending from line conductor Ll, through conductor '55, the contact members of" the relay R3D, conductors 56 and57 and thence through the coil of the relay RBD to line conductor L2, aspreviously traced for this'coil.

The closing of the contact members of the relay R3D connects the line conductor L1 to the third floor contact segment 58.

the third floor, the floor selector arm AF'SA connects contact segments 58, and 59, thuscompleting a circuit to the coils of the-down slow-down and stop relays 33 and 46, which circuit extends from line'condu'ctor L1 through conductor 55,'the contact members of relay RSD, conductors 56, 61 and 62,"contact segment 58, the'brushes 63 on the floor selector arm AFSA, contact segment 59,

conductor 64, the coil of-relay 46,-coriducto'r 65, the coil of the relay 33, conductors 66 .and 67, contact member 68 of the car switch ACS', contact member 10 and conductors 14,15, 16 and 1'7. to line conductor L2. Itwill be noted that the circuits for the inductor relays extend through" the central contact member 68 of: the car switch ACS,thus rendering it necessary that the car switch ACS be in its centralor ,offzposfition, in order that the inductor relays may bez-Tianergized;

As the car approaches more closely tothepthird fioor,'the inductor relay. 465m passing the in ductor. plate 3Y, opens its contact"members 45, thusbreaking the circuit forthe speed relay. A3.

; preaches nearer As the car approaches The opening of .the speed relay. A3 re-insertsthe resistor 22 inthe generator shunt field. winding circuit and thetcar slows down. As the car apto the third floor, the relay 33 is similarly actuatedito open itsicontact members 32,1thus deenergizingthe. down. direction switch.

A2..a'ndstopping the car. accurately level with the third floor. Tl'iese'inductor relays thus'form' a call-receiving means on .the cars forthe reception .and translation of calls for service for the cars.v

After the car is stopped andv the. third floor passenger has entered, the attendant on the car may. againstart the car downwardly by the operation of the. carswitch ACS; as previously de- 1 scribed. The car will continue downwardly,

stopping in response tothe operation of any of the down. passenger-operatedbuttons as the car/approaches. the corresponding. floor.

Justprior to the time that the car arrives at the third floor'leve l, the; floor selector. arm AFSA williengage the contact member "70 on the .floor selector, thus connecting, by meansof the brushes eaithe contact segments 58 and 70. This opera.-

tion'will complete a circuit for the reset. rela'y 53D to restore'push-button relay R3D. This cir-' cuit extends from line conductor L1, through .con-

ductor 55, contact members of the relay R3D,

conductors, 56, 61 and 62,.contact segment :58, brushes 63' of 'fioor selector AFS, contact segment '70-; conductors 71 and '72, coil of .relay S3D,.and

conductor. 54 toline conductor L2.: The opera-.

tion of relay SBD opens the holding circuit for the relayaR3D, thus rest'oringthe circuits forcthe third floor down call to normal inoperative conf 'dition.

It will be observed that the energization of the relay 123D in response tothe operation" of the 7 button 3D connects line conductor L1' to contact segment 58- forthe car A and also to the contact segment 73' ofthe floorsele'ctor'f or car B. The conductor 6l-may be further extended to connect to any number of elevators in the bank; whereby the-operation of a single button willcondition the floor selectors'for all of the cars to operate'the inductor; slow-down and stop relays for the associated car; as that car approaches the third floor.

The first of *thecars to approach the fioorwill be caused to stop'and, as thecar arrives at the floor,

the consequent restoration of the relay RBD to normalposition prevents any other car subsequentlyapproachingthe third floor from stopping in response to this third-floor down call.

Assume that the passenger who entered the car at the third floordesires to travel to the sec-' 0nd floor. The attendant on thecar willoperate the button C2, completing a'circuit for the relay CR2extending from the lineconductor L1;

through conductors 74,75, 76 and 'F'Tgpus'n-bdt ton .02; conductor '78, the coil of relay CR2, and conductors 79 an'd lltoline conductor L2. The

, operationof relay CR2 connectsline conductor L1 to the contact segment 65 of the floor selector by a of conductors" 74,75, so and 81, Contact members I) of relay CR2, and conductor 82. The relay CR2 also completes a self-holding circuitwhich extends from line conductor L1, through conductors 74, 75 and 80, normally closed contact members'of the restoring relay CSRZ, conductor 83, the contact members a of relay CR2, conductor 84, the coil of'relay CR2 and conductors "79 and 17 to line conductor L2.

' As the car approaches .the second floor, the I contact segment 59 by .the brushes 63 of the arm AFSA'will complete *a'circuitfor energizing the engagement of the contact segrnen'tBO and the V inductor; slow=down stopping'relays .46 and i in a. manner similarto that described for the l as 5s. buttons 3U, etc., common to all cars, or the car a to stop at the third floor fromeither direction."

form the It will be observed thatthe Contact mennecting the second floor segments for the up and downf dire'ctions, respectively; permits the operation of the second floor'carbutton C2'to energize both the up and down segments forthe second floor; thus the car will 'becaused to. stop at the second floor from .either 'direction in re-' sponseto the operation of. the car button 02, and'similarly thebuttonCS will cause the car The car push-buttonrelays forcar B corresponding to relays CR2 and CSR2, fete, have been. omitted in the drawing-in order to simplifyit.

It must be assumed, however, that-these relays are provided for car Bas indicated by the arrowheads on the, corresponding conductors.

the car continues its downward travel and I 'approaches' the first floor, the foam LDLC will. I engage a switch DL, preferably. of the limit switch type, and will close the contact members 8'7 and .88 of the switch. The contact members. 87 will complete a circuit energizing the down.

inductor relaycoils 33 and .46, which'circuitexe tends from lineconductor L1, through conductors 74', 75 and 89, contactmembers 8'7o1the switch DL', conductors and 64. to the coilsiofjrelays" :46and 33, andthence to line conductor L2, as;

previously traced for these coils;

The contact members, 88 ofswitch .CSR3 extending-from line conductor L1 through conductors .74, '75 and89; contactmembers 88, and conductor '91, to. a; junction-point :92 and thence to the coils. of the relays CSR2 and CSR3, in parallel relation, the circuit for relay CSR2 extending by way or conductors 93 and 94, the "coil of, relay SCRZ and conductors 79 and'17to line conductor Thu s, the push-button relays for all of the car push-buttons are restored when the carapproaches the lower limit of travel. Asthecar approachesthe upper limitof travel, the switch UL operates in a similar mannerto per f restoring function at the end of the ffup" trip.

' From the above description; it be clear. that each of the elevatorsis started by theioperaof the canswitch for that car, bythe' attendant on the car, and that as soon asthe elevator starts, the car switch may becentered, permitting the car to continue moving until it automatically stopsthrough the operation of the landing pushbuttons individual to the car, 'l'he operation of oneof the'landing buttons 3U, etc., prepares circuits for stopping all of. the cars in-the bank, butv onlythe first erm approach the. floor in the; "direction for which suchbutton is operated will stopat'thefioor. V V

If, f or.. any reason, such as when-a car is loaded tocapacity, 'theoperator desires totravel to the 3 terminal floor without making further steps, the; f-rnovementof the car switch ACSwill breakthe circuit 'to the inductor relays and the car will not stop in response to an operated push-button.

This permits the operator to pass floorsfor which buttons have been operated; 1 I

Figure 2 shows the blocking-or zoning system :for two elevators operating between ten floors. This system comprises floor selectors ABS and BFS forthecars Aand B respectively. *The' general arrangement of the contactsegments for as represents the travel at least three floors. In the system illustrated, the.ten-fioor hatchbL" cornplete a circuit forthe restoring relays CSR2 and .101; i102 and 103..

these floor selectors identical with that shown I I 1. The essential differences between. the floor selector of Fig. 2 and i those of- Figrl reside in the division of the contact segment 59' shown in Fig. -1 into three separate [segments 'designatedas 101, 102 andg103 inFig. 2. Each of these segments extends over such portion of the travel of the'floor selector arm AFSA, of the elevator between way is divided into three zones, the first includ.

ingthe'first, second, third. and fourth floors, the

1 second including the-E fifth, sixth and seventh floors, the-last includin'gtheeighth, ninth and 90.; I tenth floors. .'..The"description of the relation of the various floors, will be hereinafter set forth with'referenceto the position of the car relative to the floors, as represented by the: movement of the floor selector arm. overthe floor selector.

;j The floor selector AFS shownin Fig; 2 represents a series of down segments, .shown on the left-hand side of. the floor-selector, and a series of: up segments on the right-hand side, At the entrance to'each of the zones of blocks, as defined by segments 101, 102, 103, etc., a: normally. open contact switch mechanism, "comprisingswitehes AFSA'; which will engage. and operate for switchesf105, 106 and 107, respectively, as the ,car-moves downwardly'into the zones defined respectively by the segments 101, 102 and-103.

Acontact brushlj08on the ,floorselector arm. engages and. bridges a set of contact members 109 x110 and 111, as.th e..;car entersthe-zones #A set; of do wn block'irelays, one for each of the zones, designatedas. 112, 113 and 114'are pr'ovidedhaving their colls'iespectively connected -to thecontactsegments 111, I10 and-109 and their contact 'membersirespectiyely connected to the segments 103, 102 andf101. The purpose of the block relays 112,,-.etc., is toconnect the -block ,segmentsElOl, etc., tofthe downf inductor relay coils only when. the car ls in thecorresponding block1orzone.

Each of the relays 112, isprovided with .a latchingmember, the referencecharacters 115,

;116, and 117, respectively, designating-the latches forthe'relays 112,113 and;114. The latchmember 115. 15 normally springepressed, as by spring 105, 106 and 107, mountejd'for actuation'by a tripping mechanisrnfiloton the floor selector arm 11 8, toengage the latch, member 115 with af shoulder- 01* notch 1 19fiin thea'rmatureof the. block-relay .112.

latches 116 and-"117. Magnetizablc coils 120, 121' "and l22 are arranged to withdraw the latch members -11'5, etc., "from engagement with' the Similar springs operate the respective block relays. v

A similar set'of 'bloclc' relays, latches and coils are. provided for the up direction. of travel, beingdesignated generally as 123, 124 and 125,,

. The contact segments 126 are connected as in Fig; 1 to therespective push-buttons mounted upon the car and aredesigned tobe connected of 'a brush 128 insulatingly mounted, as at 1-29,

ont'the floor selector arm. The contact strip 127 is connected, .as by aconductor 130, to a con-'- ductor 131, whichf eeds the coils'of the down inductor-relays- (33and 46 ofiFig; 1) The contact segments '132 are connected-in parallel relation to corresponding contact segments l32'on relationwith the contact members of the pushthe floor selector BFS' for-the car B and in series L 10 with the continuous contact strip 127by means 59 in Fig. 1) may be connected to the inductor relays 33"and'46 only in-the case that the block relay 114 has its contacts closed. The circuit for these inductor relays extends from the line conductor L1 to the contact segment 132 through the push-button relay REID, etc., of Fig. 1, and conductor 1 34. through the segment 132 corresponding tothe ninth floor, brush 135 on the floor selector arm 'AFSA', segment 101, conductor 136, the contact members of relay 114, andconductor'13'7 to the conductor 131 which extends to the inductor relays 33 and 46 of Fig. 1.

Assuming the car to be at the upper terminal or tenth floor and to be started downwardly as described with reference to Fig. 1, the left-hand portion of the floor selector arm will'engage the left-hand set of contact segments onthe fioor selector. As the car starts, the tripping member 104 will engage and operate the switch 105, thereby completing a circuit for the latch magnet 122 for the car A and magnet 122' for the car B. This circuit may be traced from line conductor L1,

through conductors 138 and 139, the contact, members of the switch 105, and conductor 140, to

junction point 141, whence one branch extends by way of conductor 1'42 through'the magnet coil 122, and conductor 143 to line conductor L2 and the other branch extends by way of conductor 142, the magnet 122 and conductor 143' to line conductor L2. The energization of the magnets 122 and 122' will release any of the first block relays for all of the cars, which may happen to be energized. V I

At substantially the same instant, the brush '108 of the fioor selector arm will engage and bridge the contact segments" 109, completinga circuit for the first block relay 114 for the car A, which circuitextends from line conductor L1 through conductor 138, contact segments 109 and brush 108, conductor 144, the coil of block relay 114, and conductor 145 to line conductor L2. This operation energizes the block relay 114 and causes the relay to close its contact members a. The car A will thereafter pick up any. call for the upper zone, that is, the ninth and eighth floors and make the necessary automatic stops in response 'to the calls registered by the floor buttons (not shown) for the ninth and eighth floors.

As the car passes the eighth floor, the trip member 104 will engageand operate the switch 106, and the brush 108 will engage the contact lsegments 110to first release all of the second block relays andsubsequently actuate the second block relay 113 corresponding to the elevator car A. This operation prepares the car to take all calls for the middle zone, that is, the seventh,

sixth and fifth floors.-

.zone or block. The tripping member 104' of the floor selector arm BSFA will engage and operate the switch 105, energizing the magnets 122 and 122', permitting the block relay 114 to drop out, and thus preventing car A from receiving lany further calls while within the upper block.

Thence the circuit continues At substantially the same instantthe brush 108' engages the contact segments 109' and operates the block relay .114 for the car-B, thus placing the car Bzin condition to receive'the registered calls'within the first block. The exclusion of the car A from receiving further calls while within that block permits the car A to move into the next blockbefore receiving any further calls and throws'the burden of the traffic to the car B.

For the usual operation, cars are dispatched at such intervals that, under normal trafi'ic con- 'ditions, they will never overtake each other, and

it is only under the condition of an abnormal trafiic situation that such overtaking will occur.

My system," therefore, provides for caring vfor this abnormal trafiic condition by releasing the first car, which has been bearing theburden of the traffic, from further load within agiven zone and causingthe traffic in that zone to be thrown upon 7 the following car :which has been operating under comparatively light traffic conditions.

It will be Jobserved that my system provides for I the distribution of the trafiic in accordance-with the load upon the several elevator cars and that this distribution will occur automatically in response totheva'riations of the traflic conditions.

The description and illustration of my system is merely illustrative, the system being'capable of many variations in the apparatus and circuits described. I, therefore, do not desire tobel'imited to the systemshown and described, except as de-' finedin the appended claims.

I claim asmy invention: .7

1. 'In a control system for elevators operable between a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means for starting said car, normally inefiective means for stopping said carlevel with said floors,

including inductor relaymeans carried by said car and magnetizable plates for actuating said in-v ductor r-e'lay means mounted adjacent said floors,

manually operable call means for said floors and means operable in correspondence with movements of said car for rendering said stopping means effective to stopv said car only when said. car approaches a floor for which a call means is operated,

2. In a controlsystem for elevators operable between a plurality of floors, an elevator'car, I

means'for starting'said car, normally ineffective means for stopping said car level with said floors,

including inductor relay means carried by said car, and magnetizable plates for actuating said inductor relay means mounted adjacent said fioors, manually operable up-call means and down-call means for said floors, and means operable in correspondence with the movements of said car for rendering said stopping'means efiectiveto stop said car only when said carapproaches a floor for which a call means is operated and in the direction correspondng to said operated call means.

3. In a control system for a bank of elevators operable over a path between a plurality of floors, a plurality of cars, means dividing said path into zones of operation, each zone includrendering the receiving means for all of said cars inoperative to receive calls from the floors in that zone, and means operable upon'further movement of said car into said zone for rendering the receiving means for that. car effective to receive calls for floors in that zone.

V for stopping theassociated car,call meansat.

'4. Ina control systemsfor a bank of elevators operable over a path between a plurality-of floors, a plurality of: cars, means dividing, said pathinto', zones of operation, each zone'including a plurality of adjacentfloors,- call means for said floors-common to all of said cars, a zone relay for eachof said cars for each of said zones,

7 means for, each zone relay for maintaining said zone relay operativewhen actuated, means for releasing each of said maintaining means, means operable bythe. entry of a carinto a zone for actuatingfthe'releasing means for that zone for all of saidvcars, and means operable-byfurther movement of said car into said'zone for actuat ing the; zone relay for that zonelfor that'car.

5; lln-a-control system for albank of elevators operable between a pluralityrof ;fioors,1a plurality of cars, meansindividual for-each 'ofsaid cars said floora mieans dividing said floors into blocks,

each; block including a plurality; of adjacent floors, and means operable by the entry ,ofmore than oneof said cars into'a'blockfor rendering said callrneans forall but one of said cars inefiective .to actuate the stopping; means for said-cars.

6;. In a-controlsystem for a bank of elevators 1 operable-between a plurality of floors, a plurality of cars, means individual to each of said cars for' stopping the associatedfcar, call means at said floors, mean'sdividing said floors into blocks, each block including a plurality} of adjacent floors, and means to render said call means effective to actuate the stopping means for only the last of the cars to enter said block.

7. In a control system for a bank'of elevators operable between a plurality of noors, a-;pluralityof cars, means individual to each of said cars, for

stopping the'associated'car call means at said floors, means dividing said 3 floors into blocks, ,each block including a plurality or: adjacent floors, and means for'rendering the call means for any of the floors in said block inefiective to actuate thestopping means for thefirst car entering said b1ock.-

' 8. A control system for anelevator car comprising a floor-relay switch for each of a plu- Y *oof ralityof landings 1 each having anfoperating car successively s ati ne y, c a r winding-and a self-holdingy-circuit for the lat-.1

ter, each winding energizable from its associated landing, stop circuits responsiveto saidfloorrelay, switches, additional. stop 'circuits,--controllable only from the car, and two sets of contact mechanisms tocontrol said first and second named stop circuits, each set comprising a sta tionary contactor for each of said landings, and a contactor common to said stationary contactors, movable inaccordance with the position'of the cars successively to engage said fixed contactors. v 9. In combination, an elevator, a hoisting motor therefor having multi-speedregulation, -a

flo'or-relgwv switch for each of a plurality of landings, wea'ch'having-an operating winding, each winding energizable from its landing and having a self-holdingcircuiaaslow-down switch having an operating winding, circuits for said operating winding, one for each landing, each partially 5 closed; by its associated floor-r-relay switchwhen the latter is in actuated position 'and contact mechanism effective to completeeach circuit,v

said vmechanism comprising a stationary 'contac tor, for each landing and an additional contactor common to all of said stationary .contactors and movable in accordance with movement of the to engage said stationarycontactors.

10. In combination, an elevatorcar, a hoistings fmotor therefor having multi-speed regulation,- a

floor-relay switch'for each of a plurality of landings, each havinggan operating winding energize able from its landings, and ,each having a self-. holding circuit, a speed change switch having electro-magnetic actuating means, control cir-; cu-its.-for said electro magnetic means, one for each landing controlled by its associated. floorrelayswitch, each circuit partially closed by its, associated floor-relay switch when in actuated position, and contact mechanism effective to;

complete each oi said circuits,- comprising a stationary contactor foreach'landing and an additionalcontactor common to all of-saidstationary contactors, and movable in accordance .with 1 movement of the-car successively to'engage said -EDGAR MfBonTon, 1 

